Video & audio converter
MP4 to GIF Converter
Turn a video clip into an animated GIF. We use up to the first 30 seconds, at 480px wide.
Tested by Thiago · Updated
Free, no sign-up · Sent over HTTPS · Files are deleted from our server automatically after 30 minutes
How to convert MP4 to GIF
- Add your files: drag them into the box above, or click "Choose files".
- Click "Convert to GIF" and wait a few seconds while we process them.
- Download your GIF files. Uploaded files are deleted right away, and converted files are removed from our server after 30 minutes.
Why convert MP4 to GIF?
GIFs are short, silent, looping animations that play everywhere: chats, social networks, emails, documentation and websites, with no play button. Converting an MP4 clip to GIF is perfect for reactions, quick product demos and step-by-step tutorials. ConvertKiwi uses a two-pass color palette so your GIF looks as good as the format allows.
- You want to show a short demo or tutorial step in documentation or a support reply.
- You are making a reaction or meme from your own clip.
- You need an animation that autoplays in email, where video usually does not.
- You have a short MP4 from a product shoot and want a moving preview for a shop page or an email newsletter.
Filmed upright? Expect a much heavier GIF
The GIF is always 480 pixels wide, and its height follows the shape of your MP4. A landscape phone clip becomes 480 by 270 pixels. A clip filmed upright becomes 480 by 853, more than three times as many pixels in every frame.
We measured it on a test clip made from real photos with a slow zoom and some camera grain. Three seconds of the landscape version gave a 2.7 MB GIF. The same three seconds filmed upright gave 8.8 MB, larger than the MP4 it came from. If you only need the middle of a vertical shot, crop it to a square in your phone's editor before converting.
Every second counts
A GIF stores each frame as a separate picture, so the size grows almost in step with the length. With our landscape test clip we got these results:
- 3 seconds: 2.7 MB
- 6 seconds: 5.5 MB
- 10 seconds: 9.2 MB
- 30 seconds, the maximum: 20.7 MB
Tips for the best result
- We use up to the first 30 seconds, at 480 pixels wide and 12 frames per second, to keep the file size reasonable.
- Shorter is better: a 3 to 6 second clip makes a much lighter and more shareable GIF.
- GIFs have no sound and at most 256 colors. For long or colorful clips, a compressed MP4 is often a better choice.
- Over the limit of the place you are posting to? Cut the clip in half: in the measurements above, half the length gave roughly half the file.
About these formats
MP4: The most widely supported video format. It plays on phones, browsers, TVs and social networks, with good quality at a reasonable size.
GIF: A short, silent, looping animation that plays everywhere: chats, social networks, emails and websites.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my GIF larger than the video?
GIF is an old format with weak compression. A few seconds of GIF can be bigger than a whole minute of MP4, which is why we limit length and size.
Does the GIF loop?
Yes, GIFs made here loop forever.
Can I convert only part of the video?
The GIF uses the first 30 seconds. To pick another part, trim the video first in your phone or computer's editor.
Can I choose a bigger size or a higher frame rate?
No. Every GIF made on this page is 480 pixels wide at 12 frames per second. Those settings keep the file at a size that chats and web pages can handle; a larger GIF would grow much faster than it would gain in sharpness.
Will fast motion look choppy?
A little. Phone videos usually have 30 frames per second, and the GIF keeps 12 of them. Slow movements, gestures and screen actions look smooth; a fast pan or a ball flying across the frame can look jumpy.
Why do I see a fine grid of dots in smooth areas?
Each GIF made here holds 128 colors picked for your clip. To show the shades in between, neighboring pixels of two colors are mixed in a regular pattern. You notice it most on skies and plain walls, and it is what stops smooth gradients from breaking into hard stripes.